St Catherine’s School in Germiston, Johannesburg, has been busy giving back to its community. More than 110 blankets were hand-knitted by students, teachers and support staff and, along with other cold weather clothing items, donated to those in need via the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. One grateful group of recipients said: “On behalf of the Society
of Saint Vincent de Paul we thank you, Sister Bernadette, and everyone at St Catherine’s, for your continued donations of foodstuffs and knitted blankets for the poor of our community. May God richly bless you all.”

St Catherine’s also learned that almost nine million young girls in South Africa, aged between 13 and 19 years, miss up to a week of school every month due to a lack of sanitary products. To date, learners and staff from St Catherine’s have collected 2 863 sanitary towels, which
will provide 10 young girls with this basic need for a year. St Catherine’s partnered with students from the University of Johannesburg on this mammoth project of making a difference to young girls.

St Catherine’s own Give campaign also inspired everyone at the school. Says marketer Charmaine Burger: “Initially, we asked each class to fill an empty shoebox with goodies such as small biscuit packs, chocolate, hand and body cream and winter socks. Added to each box was a special prayer too. The packed boxes were handed to the Sisters of the Dominican Order, our school’s co-founders, and caregivers in the community facilities that we support. A total of 167 boxes went to our Sisters, Epworth Children’s Home, Edenvale Care Centre Hospice and the Kinross Home for the Aged.”